Zagreb, January 31, 2001 (IKA) — A book entitled Vjerni Bogu vjerni Bosni (Faithful to God, Faithful to Bosnia) by Fra Petar Anđelović, was presented today, January 31, 2001, at the Journalists’ Club in Zagreb by Hasan Muratović, Zvonimir Bono Šagi, Ivo Žanić, Željko Ivanković, Ivan Lovrenović and the author. Zvonimir Bono Šagi pointed out that the book describes the sufferings and trials of the author and his fellow Franciscans who were sent to specific people to share good and bad. “With faith, hope, love, thoughts of God and the people in Bosnia, the author writes about specific occurrences: misunderstandings, conflicts, war, persecution, pain and suffering, and the path to the establishment of peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina and these territories,” said Zvonimir Bono Šagi.
Fra Petar pointed out that the book is not expressly theological but more political. He noted that he felt that politics should not only be the domain of politicians but of all people, even priests.
The presentation was attended by the president of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić, who said he would be happy if the book came into the hands of all those who believe in Bosnia, and especially all those who do not believe in Bosnia. He said that to read this book is to understand Bosnia.
Fra Petar Anđelović was born on December 9, 1937 in Boće near Brčko. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1964 and has held a variety of positions, including parish priest in Zenica, guardian in the Monastery of Sv. Ante na Bistriku in Sarajevo, and the provincial of the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena. In 1995, he published a book entitled Mi ostajemo (We are Staying) in Zagreb. The work Vjerni Bogu vjerni Bosni is the logical continuation of his previous book.